Google Pixel Fold could launch this year, says analyst

(Prototype credit: Waqar Khan | Remix via Nick Bush)

The rollout of foldable phones has been slow, to say the to the lowest degree. Currently just Samsung and Motorola sell them in the U.Southward., and the latter hasn't shown off annihilation new this year. Just there is all the same a chance for a brand new foldable to hit store shelves before 2021 is over.

In fact, co-ordinate to a brand new leak, the Google Pixel Fold could arrive former in Q4 of 2021. Or at least that may be the case, if David Naranjo, Senior Director at Brandish Supply Chain Consultants, is to be believed.

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Google's Pixel vi series is currently rumored to launch on October 19, and it would get presumably go on sale shortly after. That date is a few weeks into the 4th quarter of the year, but are we likely to see the Pixel Fold arrive during that same event?

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It'due south not entirely clear, and fifty-fifty Naranjo himself isn't trying to ostend anything. Obviously we'd like to run into more foldable phones out in the globe, but the fact we haven't heard all that much almost the Pixel Fold doesn't fill me with confidence.

If the past few years have shown me anything, it's that Google is not very skilful at keeping secrets. The company'due south mobile segmentation seems to take more than leaks than a colander.

Of grade, we have heard about the Pixel Fold before, which was featured on a listing of leaked Google phones with a GPQ72 model number and the codename 'Passport'. We've also seen patents detailing some of the things the foldable might include, including an under-screen camera, and reports that information technology could feature a vii.half dozen-inch display when unfolded. This would match the Galaxy Z Fold three.

But the fact Google is working on a foldable doesn't necessarily mean it'll be coming this yr. Nosotros've heard rumors that the phone might be delayed, and making a foldable phone is no easy task. You simply need to look at the issues experienced by the original Samsung Galaxy Fold to sympathise how things can become wrong.

Nosotros're going to have to expect and encounter what Google has in store for us at the Pixel 6 launch event. But equally much as I hope Google does have a foldable ready to go, I simply hope they take the fourth dimension to do the job properly and not rush things.

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Tom is the Tom's Guide's Automotive Editor, which ways he tin can ordinarily be institute knee deep in stats the latest and best electrical cars, or checking out some sort of driving gadget. It's long way from his days as editor of Gizmodo U.k., when pretty much everything was on the table. He's usually found trying to squeeze another behemothic Lego fix onto the shelf, draining very large cups of coffee, or complaining that Ikea won't let him buy the stuff he really needs online.